Process for making fillers for tires.



F. Tx ROBERTS,

PROCESS FOR MAKING FILLERS FOR TIRES.

APPLICATION FILED NOV 7, 1910.

1,012,161 Patented Dec. 19,1911

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P. T. ROBERTS,

PROCESS FDR mmm mmm ma TIRES.

APPLICATION FILE?) JQHH 7'. 19M" 1,012,161, Patented Dec. 19,1911,

2 SHEETS SHEE'1' E lwucwboz ummy is a cross section parts being infiller united with drawn from it.

FRED T. ROBERTS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

PROCESS FOR MAKING FILLERS FOR TIRES.

Specification ct Letters Yatent.

Patented Dec. 19, 1911.

Applicationflled November 7, 1910. Serial No. 591,107.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Faun T. ROBERTS, a citizen of the United States,residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Processes for MakinFillers for Tires; and do declare the ollowing to be a full, clear, andexact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to a method or process for making tires and tirecores or fillers, such, for example, as set forth in my copendingapplication Serial No. 602,015 filed January 10, 1911.

The object of the present invention is to provide a simple and practicalprocess for producing tires or tire fillers from resilient porusmaterial chambers to contain compressed air or other gas which willcoact with the elasticity of the rubber in producing a vehicle tire thatwill afford the same resiliency as the ordinar inflated inner tubetires.

1 ith the above and other objects in view the invention consists incertain novel steps as will be more fully described and particularlypointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 of a vulcanizing old used in thepractice of my process; Fig. 2 is a detail view partly in sectionshowing a rubber tube arranged on its sustaining element. Fig. 3 is aplan view of the mold shown in Fig. 1, parts being broken away and insection; Fig. 4 is a view showing the vulcanized filler after it isremoved from the mold but before the sustaining elements or wires havebeen with- Fig. 5 is a sectional perspective view-of the filler. Fig. 6is a view of. the filler cut into sections. Fig. 7 is a similar view ofthe filler with the transvers partitions arranged between its sections,

section. Fig. 8 is a view 7 showing the sections of the the transversepartitions whereby an integral filler body of annular form is providedwith a longitudinal series of independent air-tight cells or chambers.

similar to Fig.

Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view through the filler or core showing itarranged in an ordinary tire casln and the latter arranged in acompressing evlce. Fig. 10 is a view such as elastic rubber, and havinga plurality of independent cells orview through a portion" "moldedarticle.

similar to Fig. 9 showing the filler com- )resseil iif the tire casingand the rim closing tiie latter.

My improved filler or core for tires as illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings and set forth in my co-pending ap lication comprises aone-piece annular ody of elastic rubber made of sector shape in crosssection with its channeled or hollowed portion turned inwardly, and alsohaving numerous air-tight cells or chambers which preferably extendlongitudinally or circumferentially and are closed at intervals wherebysuch cells are arranged in series around the filler, the latter beingmade of sector shape in cross section, so that it may.

be compressed into circular .nape or substantially circular shape incross-section in a! tire casing and the air in the air-tight cells orchambers will be compresed to make the tire a combined pneumatic andcushion tire. In producing this preferred form of filler or core, I takea plurality of rubber elements or tubes 1, which may be of cylindricalor other shape and arrange such tubes in a suitable mold and thenvulcanize them to form a congl omerate body. In order to prevent thetubes lfrom collapsing while they are being 'vulcanized into a singlebody, I provide sustaining elements 2 in them, such elements beingreferably flexible wires or tubes which may lie made of lead, copperorother material of suflicient flexibility to allow them to be readilywithdrawn from the vulcanized or To further assist in the ready removalof the elements or wires 2, they are covered with talc or other materialthat will prevent the rubber tubing from adherin to them.

A su cient number of the tubes 1 containing their sustaining elements 2are placed in the combined mold and vulcanizing chamber which may be ofany shape according to the shape it is desired to give to the filler.However, I preferably mold or vulcanize in one piece a sufiicient lengthof material to make one completefiller or core and, conse uently, makethe mold or core of annular shape as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. This moldis preferably made of two half sections 3 having their outer, edgesprovided with flanges 4 are ,detachably united by bolts or analagqusfasteners 5.

The inner, edges of the moldsections 3 are formed withoutturnedfflimgesfi, which latter are notched at intervals to receivescrews, bolts or other tion. The third or cover section 8 of the mold isof divided circular shape and its out-turned flanges are formed. withelongated ltCthfitS or slots 5) whereby said cover section may slide onthe bolts 7 in expanding to enter and close the body of the mold. Thecover section 8 is also preferably made V shaped in cross section asclearly shown in Fig. 1, so that the molded or vulcanized tiller 10 willhave a body of sector sha. e in cross-section. The preferred shape 0this molded or vulcanized filler body isv clearly shown in Fig. 5 uponreference to which it, will be noted that its V-shaped channeled portionis turned inwardly and composed of flat. faces 11 which converge towardthe center of the filler.

\Vhcn the plurality of rubber tubes 1 are placed in the mold, thesustaining elements 2 are allowed to project slightly from one end asshown at 13 in Fig. 3. After a sulficient number of tubes have beenplaced in the mold the cover section 8 is screwed down tight on the bodysections and the entire mold placed in a suitable vulcaniz ng apparatus.After the vulcanizing operation the molded or vulcanizedbody 10 of thefiller is removed from the mold in the form shown in F ig. 4 and inremoving the sustaining elements or wires 2, said body 10 isstraightened as much as possible and the wires 2 drawn out by anysuitable means so as to leave continuous air cells runninglongitudinallyor circumferentially through the filler. After the elements or wires 2have been withdrawn from thefiller it is divided in a plurality ofarcuate sections as shown in Fig. 6 and between the opposing ends ofeach two adjacent'sections then arrange a. partition 11'. The partitions11' are preferably made of sheets of rubber and are united to theabutting ends of adjacent sections byan acid cure process orany othermeans whereby an integral or one piece annular filler is produced. Thiscompleted filler-or core is illustrated in Fig. 8, on ref- .erence towhich it will be noted that it conains a number pf se arate orindependent series of longitudinal y extending air-tightairgcellsoc-chambers '12, the air in which will be compressed'when thefiller ,or core is compresed in the 'tire casing.

As shown in Fi' 9, the distended filler is made offgreater fiameter thanthe internal diameter of the closed tire casing so that; when thelatteris closed the filler will be com ressed as shown in Fig. 10. In order toc ose the tire casing, which latter is indicat'ed at 18 in'Fi 9, it isplaced in a'conr, pressing device a terthefiller has been able fillersinserted in the openin placed in it. This compressing device coinprisesa reslllent member 14 arranged in the U-shaped support 15 which lattercarries pressure-exerting screws 16 to bear against the resilient endportions of the compressing member 14, whereby said end portions willpress the two side edges of the tire inwardly and at the same timecompress the entire,

to hold .the tire casing in the rim the same I as an ordinary inflatedpneumatic inner tube. From the foregoing it will be seen that by meansof my improved process my pneumatic tiller or core maybe readilyproduced at a small expense and that the filler, owin to its peculiarconstruction, will be an e fective substitute for the inflated innertube of a pneumatic tire. The formation of the tiller from elasticrubber and makin it with air-tight cells or chambers and of sectorshapein cross-section so that it will be comressed when placed in the tire ortire-casmg, produces in combination with the tirecasing, a combinationpneumatic and cushion tire, ecause the compression of the air in the aircells will cooperate with the elasticity of the rubber in giving thetire the desired resiliency. Furthermore, the forma tion of the filleras set forth, produces a device that will not only have all theadvantages of the inflated pneumatic tire, but

which will also be free from the objections to such tires, such forinstance 'as blow-outs, leaking valves, etc.

\Vhile I have shownand described in detail the preferred embodiment ofmy invention and the preferred method of producing the'same, I wish itunderstood that changes and variations may be resorted to within thespirit and scope of my invention.

.1 claim:

1. The herein described process which comprises the distention of aplurality ofhollow rubber bodies by means of withdrawable fillersinserted'in the openin and extending through the bodies,-assem ling suchbodies and fillers in juxta osition, vulcanizing the bodies thus 'assemled and distended, and withdrawing the fillers.

2. The herein described process which comprises the distention of aplurality of hollow rubber bodies by means of withdrawand extendingthrough the bodies therein, assembling such bodiesand fillers in juxtaosition, vulcanizing the bodies thus assem led and distended,withdrawing the fillers and sealin the ope'nin a. he herein d escribed'process which bodies and fillers in juxtaposition, vulcania ing thebodies thus assembled and distended, withdrawing the fillers, sealingthe openlugs, and compressing the inclosed air.

4,. The herein described process which 10 comprises the distention ofaplurality of hollow rubber bodies by means of withdrawable fillersinserted in the openings and extending through the bodies, assemblingsuch bodies and fillers in juxtaposition, vulcanizing the bodies thusassembled and distended, withdrawing the fillers, dividing thevulcanized body into sections, and sealing and connecting said sections.

5. The herein described process which 29 comprises the distention of aplurality of hollow rubber bodies by means of fillers inserted inopenings therein, assembling such bodies and fillers in juxtaposition,vulcanizing the bodies thus assembled and distended,

withdrawing the fillers, dividing the vulcanized bod into sections,sealing and connecting sai sections an air in the sections. 7

6. The herein described process which compressing the g comprises'thedistention of a plurality of hollow rubber bodies by means of fillersinserted in openings therein, assembling such bodies and fillers injuxtaposition, vulcanizin the bodies thus assembled and distended,

withdrawinglthe fillers, dividing the vulcanized body into sections,sealing and con necting said sections and compressing the air in thesections by reducing their cross sectional area.

10 7. The herein described process which comprises the distention of aplurality of hollow rubber bodies by means of fillers in.

serted in openings therein, assembling, such bodies and fillers injuxtaposition, vulcaniz- 15 mg the bodies thus assembled and distended,

withdrawing the fillers, dividing the vulcanized body into sections,sealing and connecting said sections, and simultaneously compressing theair in all of the sections.

so 8. The herein described process which comprises the distention of apluralityof ,hollow rubber bodies by [means of fillers inserted inopenings therein, assembling N such bodies and fillers in juxtaposition,vul- 6 canizing the bodies thus asse'i bled and distended, withdrawingthe fillers, dividing the vulcanized body into sections, separatingadiacent sections by inserting partitions beween them, and subjectingthe sections and inclosed partitions to treatment. which will a sealtheopenindgs of the sections and secure the secti'ops an partitionstogether.

9. The herein described process which comprises the distention of aplurality of a rubber tubes by means of withdrawable fillers inserted inand extending through the tubes, assembling such distended tubes inlateral juxtaposition, vulcanizing the assembled and distended tubes,and withdrawing the tillers therefrom.

10. The herein described process which comprises, the distention of aplurality of rubber tubes by means of withdrawable fillers inserted inand extending through the tubes, assembling such distended tubes inlateral juxtaposition, vulcanizing the assembled and distended tubes,withdrawing the fillers therefrom, sealing the tubes, and coinpressingthe air therein.

11. The herein described process which comprises the distention of aplurality of rubber tubes by means of fillers inserted in the endsthereof, assembling such distended tubes in lateral juxtaposition,vulcanizing the assembled and distended tubes, withdrawing the fillerstherefrom, dividing the vulcanized body transversely into sections, andsealing and connecting the ends of said sections.

12. The herein described process which comprises the distention of aplurality of rubber tubes by means of fillers inserted in the endsthereof, assembling such distended tubes in lateral juxtaposition,vulcanizing the assembled and distended tubes, withdrawing the fillerstherefrom, dividing the vulcanized body transversely into sections,sealing and connecting the ends of said sections, and compressing theair in the sections.

13. The herein described process which comprises the distention of aplurality of ,rubber tubes by means of fillers inserted in the' endsther f,- assembling such distended tubes in lateral juxtaposition, vulcanizing the assembled and distended tubes, withdrawing the fillerstherefrom, dividing the vulcanized body transversely into sections,sealing and connecting tlie ends of said sections. and compressing theair in the sections by reducing the cross-sectional area thereof.

14. The herein described process which comprises the distention of aplurality of rubber tubes by means of fillers inserted in the endsthereof, assembling such distended tuli'esdn lateral juxtaposition,vulcanizing the assembled and dist-ended tubes. witlr drawing thefillers therefrom, dividing the vulcanized body transversely into'sections, sealing and connecting the ends of said sections, andsimultaneously compressing the air in all of the sections.

15. The herein described process which comprises the distention of aplurality of rubber tubes by norms of fillers inserted in the endsthereof, assembling such distended tubes in lateral juxtaposition,vulcanizing the assembled and distended tubes, withdrawing the fillerstherefrom, dividing the tillers from the body.

vulcanized body transversely into sections, inserting partitions betweenadjacent sections, and subjecting the sections and inserted partitionsto treatment which will unite them and seal the openings in the ends ofthe sections.

16. The herein described process which comprises the distention of aplurality of rubber tubes by means of fillers inserted in the endsthereof, assembling such distended tubes in lateral juxtaposition,vulcanizing the assembled and distended tubes, withdrawing the tillerstherefrom, dividing the vulcanized body transversely into sections,inserting partitions between adjacent sections, subjecting the sectionsaml inserted partitions to treatment which will unite them and seal theopenings in the ends of the sections and compressing the air in theunited sections.

17. The herein described process which comprises the distention of aplurality of rubber tubes by means of fillers inserted in the endsthereof, assemblirg such distended tubes in lateral juxtaposition,vnlcanizing the assembled and distended tubes, withdrawing the fillerstherefrom. dividing the vulcanized body transversely into sections,inserting partitions between adjacent sections, subjecting the sectionsand inserted partitions to treatment which will unite then and seal theopenings in the ends of the seetirns. and compressing theair in theunited sections by reducing their eross-sectional area.

18. The herein described process which comprises the distention of aplurality of hollow rubber bodies by nieans of tlexiblo witlnlrawablefillers inserted therein and extending thcrethrough. assemblingtheidistended bodies with the iuelosed fillers, in juxtaposition in amold .or ftllllltl,ill8 flexibility of the tillers permitting of the.accurate aeeonnnodation of the assembled bod es to the form of themold, vuleanizing the distended and formed up assemblage whilein themold, removing the vulcanized body from the mold and withdrawing thehumble it). The herein deseribed process which comprisesithe distentionof a plurality of hollow rubb'er ,bodies by means of flexible fillersinserted Herein, assembling the distended bodies with the*inclosedfillers, in juxtaposition in a mold or former, the flexib lity of thefillers permitting of the accurate. :n-rommodatiion of the assembledbodies to the form of the mold. vulcanizing the distended and formed upassemblage while in the mold, removing t from the mold, withdrawing theflexible fillers from the body, sealin the openings, and compressing theinclose air.

The herein described process which comprises the distention of aplurality of e vulcanized body,

tended bodies with the inclosed fillers, in j juxtaposition in a mold orformer, the flexi bility of the fillers permitting of the accurateaccommodation of the assembled bodies to th" form of the mold,vulcanizing the distended and formed up assemblage while in the mold,removing the vulcanized body from the mold, withdrawing the flexiblefillers from the body, sealin the openings, and compressing the mcloseair by reducing1 the cross-sectional area of the inclosing b0 y.

21. The herein described process which comprises the distention of a.plurality of hollow rubber bodies by means of flexible fillers insertedtherein, assembling the distended bodies with the inclosed fillers, injuxtaposition in a mold or former, the flexibility of the fillerspermitting of the accurate accommodation of the assembled bodies to theform of the mold, vulcanizing the distended and formed up assemblagewhile in the mold,'rcmoving the vulcanized body from the mold,withdrawing the flexible fillers from the body, dividing the vulcanizedbody into adjacent sections, and sealing and connecting said se tions.

' 22. The herein described process which comprises the distention of aplurality of hollow rubber bodies by means of flexible fillers insertedtherein, assembling the distended bodies with the inclosed fillers, injuxtaposition in a mold or former, the flexibility of the fillerspermitting of the accurate au-onnnodation of the assembled bodies to theform of the mold, vulcanizing the distended and formed 11 assemblagewhile in the mold, removing t e vulcanized body from the mold,,withdrawing the flexible 'fillers from the body, dividing the vulcanizedbody intoadjacent sections, sealing and connecting said sections, andcompressing the air inclosed in the sections.

The herein described process which comprises the distention of aplurality of hollow rubber bodies by means of flexible tillers insertedtherein, assembling the distended bodies with the inclos ed fillers, in

juxtaposition in a mold-0r former, the flexit bility of thetillers-permitting of the accu- 'ate accommodation of theass'embledbodies tended bodies with the inclosed fillers, in 'uxtaposition in amold or former, the flexiility of the fillers permitting of the accurateaccommodation of the assembled bodies to the form of the mold,vulcanizing the distended and formed up assemblage while in the mold,removin the vulcanized body from the mold, withdrawing the flexiblefillers from the body, dividing the vulcanized body transversely intosections, inserting partitions between adjacent sections, and subjectingthe sections and inserted partitions to treatment which will unite themand seal the openings in the ends of the sections.

25. The herein described process which comprises the distention of aplurality of hollow rubber bodies by means of flexible fillers insertedtherein, assembling the distended bodies with the inclosed fillers, injuxtaposition in a mold or former, the flexi bility of the fillerspermitting of the accurate accommodation of the assembled bodies to theform of the mold, vulcanizing the distended and formed up assemblagewhile in the mold, removing the vulcanized body from the mold,withdrawing the flexible fillers from the body, dividing the vulcan izedbody transversely into sections, insertin partitions between adjacentsections, subjecting the sections and inserted partitions to treatmentwhich will unite them and seal the openings in the ends of the sections,and compressing the air in the united sections. a

26. The herein described process which comprises the distention of aplurality of hollow rubber bodies by means of flexible fillers insertedtherein, assembling-the distended bodies with the inclosed fillers, in'uxtaposition in a mold or former, the flexiility of the fillerspermitting of the accurate accommodation of the assembled bodies.

to the form of the mold,-vulcanizing the distended and formed upassemblage while in the mold, removing the vulcanized body from themold, withdrawing the-flexible fillers from the body, dividing thevulcanized body transversely into sections, inserting artitions betweenadjacent sections, subecting the sections and inserted partitions totreatment which will unite them and seal the openings in the ends of thesections, and compressing the air in the united sections by reducingtheir cross-sectional area.

27. The herein described process which comprises the distention of aplurality of rubber tubes b the insertion therein of withdrawable filersextending through the tubes, assembling the distended tubes 1n lateraljuxtaposition in a body sector shaped in cross -section vulcanizing theassembled tubes into said sector shape, removin tlie fillers, sealingthe openings, and compisin the contained air.

The

ereifi described process which comprises the distention of a pluralityof rubber tubes by the insertion therein of fillers, assemblin thedistended tubes in lateral juxtaposition in a body sector shaped incross-section, vulcanizing the assembled tubes into a body of saidsector shape, removing the fillers, sealing the o enings, andcompressing the contained air iiy changing the vulcanized body tocircular form in crosssection.

29. The herein described process which comprises the distention of aplurality of rubber tubes by the insertion therein of fillers,assembling the distended tubes in lateral juxtaposition in a body of thecross-sectional form of a circle having a sector of less than asemi-circle removed therefrom, vulcanizing the assembled tubes, removingthe fillers, and changing the transverse sectional form of thevulcanized body to that of a circle of reduced area.

rubbe tubes by the insertion therein of withdr wable fillers extendingthrough the tubes, assembling the distended tubes 1n lateraljuxtaposition in a body of the cross-sectional form of a circle having asector of less 30. The herein described process which the distention ofa pluralityof than a semi-circle removed therefrom, vulcanizing theassembled tubes, removing the fillers, sealing the openings, andcompressing the contained air.

31. The herein described process which comprises the distention of aplurality of rubber tubes by the insertion therein of fillers,assembling the distended tubes in lateral juxtaposition in a body of thecrosssectional form of a circle having a sector of less than asemi-circle removed therefrom, vulcanizing the assembled tubes, removingthe fillers, dividing the vulcanized body transversely into sections,sealing the openings in the ends of the sections, and compressing thecontained air.

comprises the distention of a pluralit rubber tubes by the insertiontherein 0 fillers, assemblin the distended tubes in \lateraljuxtaposition in a body of the cross-sectional form of a circle having asector of less than a semi-circle removed therefrom, vulcanizing theassembled tubes, removing the fillers, dividing the vulcanized bodytransversely into sections, sealing the openings in the ends of thesections, and compressing the contained air by chan ing the transversesectional form of the vuicanized body to that of a circle of reducedarea.

33. The herein described process which 5 comprises the distention of apluralit of rubber tubes by the insertion therein 0 fillers, assemblinthe distended tubes in lateral j uxtaposition in a body of thecross-seetional form of'a circle having a sector of less than asemicircle removed therefrom,

vulcanizing the assembled tubes, removing the fillers, dividing thevulcanized body into sections, insertin partitions between adjacentsections, sea ing the sections and partitions together, and compressingthe contained air.

34. The herein described process which comprises the distention of aplurality of rubber tubes by the insertion therein of fillers,assembling the distended tubes in lateral juxtaposition in a body of thecross-sectional form of a circle having a sector of less than asemi-circle removed therefrom, vulcanizing the assembled tubes, removingthe fillers, dividing the vulcanized body into sections, insertingpartitions between adjacent sections, sealin the sections and partitionstogether, an compressing the contained air by changing the transversesectional form of the united and sealed sections to that of a circle ofreduced area.

35. The herein described process which comprises the distention of aplurality of rubber tubes by the insertion therein oi filh ers,assembling the distended tubes in lateral juxtaposition in a body of thecross-sec tional form of a circle having a httflfil' of less than asemi-circle removed therefrom, vulcanizing the assembled tubes, removingthe fillers, sealing the openings, inserting the vulcanized body into atire easing, and compressing the tire casing and inelosed vulcanizedbody transversely until the edges of the casing meet, bringing the (I'u=.--SC 'tiuilill form of the vulcanized body to that of a circle ofreduced area.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

FRED T, IHDBERTS.

Witnesses O'r'ro Honwrrz, FREDERICK WIRNER.

